Author's Note: Thanks to all who reviewed! I think I'll make this AN short because…well…I don't have much to say. (lol)

Oh right, I'm sorry for taking so long in the update. My Christmas vacation was pack with no time for me to do…well anything. But here's the next awaited chapter and I hope you all like it. I really need to update faster with this story, my other story has 11 Chapters now. Goodness!

Disclaimer: I do not own anything that is related to Ultimate Muscle: The Kinnikuman Legacy. Although! I do now have an Ultimate Muscle fighting game for my PS2!!! YAH!! I LOVE IT!! Checkmate is so hot!!!

Chapter Four: A Very Strange End to an Even Stranger Day

The ride back was uneventful and quiet uncomfortable on my part. Checkmate wouldn't even acknowledge me when I asked him if he was alright. For most of the ride, he sat there, silent with a set determination to not look at me.

But that wasn't the least of my worries; I still can't get that last look Mr. Kuroki gave me out of my mind. It all confused me so much. It also gave me the chills just thinking back to it. That smile was anything but friendly. Yet could it be possible that he's keeping something from us? Something that he knows, that neither I nor Checkmate knows. But how could he, we both just met him today. Wait! Didn't he say that he knew both of us at the beginning? Yes, he did. Then I'm sure something is indeed very wrong here and if it takes everything I have, I will get to bottom of this.

But one thing kept tugging at me however; what exactly had he told Checkmate to make him this angry?

I glanced back over at the English Chojin. His arms were now crossed and he was staring out the window. Still looking concerned and refusing to look at me. I wasn't sure if he as mad at me or perhaps Mr. Kuroki.

"Um…Checkmate?" I asked, hoping for a response. Which I got nothing.

How could someone change this much? He was kind and charming before and now he's detached and crossed. Talk about being moody? And I thought I was bad.

"I'm sorry were you just saying something?" I heard him say. I looked back over and saw that he was now staring at me waiting for me to talk.

"I was just wondering if everything was alright. You seemed pretty startled or something by Mr. Kuroki. " I asked, guessing there was no harm in questioning. I had just as much right to know as he did. What ever Mr. Kuroki had said to him, I wanted to know.

"I'm quite alright…" I knew that had to be a lie. "…and it's nothing of your concern." He finished by looking forward at the cars in front of us. I guess asking any further would be a waste of time. No matter what I say, I don't think he'll say anything now.

We continued driving along the highway in almost peaceful silence, when a sudden thought hit me. Were in the world am I going?

I had no more clients for today and my destructed mass of presentations lying in my trunk will surly take me a whole day to clean up, which right now, I didn't have time for. It was also around dinner time and all the excitement of the day had me completely worn out. At this point I was so ready to go home and have a hot bath. But one little, or should I say big problem, was still to be corrected: Checkmate.

"Um, Checkmate?"

"Yes."

"I have nothing else to do for the day, so I was going to head home now." I started, receiving a confused glare from Checkmate, while he tried to ponder what I was going to ask. I swear men sometimes, nothing but dirty things on their minds.

"I was wondering where you wanted me to drop you off at." I asked. When I did, I believe relief washed over his face. What did he think I was going to say? On second thought maybe I didn't want to know.

"I guess you can drop me off at home. I was heading there before…well…you know." He said blushing. He was probably thinking back to the incident with the stampede of hormonal girls.

"Alright home it is then, just tell me where you live and I'll bring you there." I said smiling.

O-O-O-O-O

About ten minutes later we made it to Checkmate's apartment building on the South side of the city. I parked at the front steps and waited for him to get out. He went to reach for the handle of the door, but stopped half way.

"Holly?" He said as if my name was hard to say.

"Yes?"

"You need to promise me that you will not see that man again." He said staring at me though painful eyes. He wanted me to what? Did I just hear that right?

"What do you mean? If it has to do with what he told you back there, then I want to know! You just can't tell me to not go back to a paying client. It's my profession were talking about here." I shouted, startled by his outburst. I felt like a teenage girl being scolded by her father for being caught kissing a boy on the couch. Who is he to tell me who I can and can't work with?

"I can't tell you…because I don't really know myself." He said as if thinking over every word.

I had to say I was confused all over again. What does he mean he doesn't know? I wish he would tell me, I feel so useless.

"Just promise me, that you will do the right thing. I'm quite positive you can acquire more clients and losing just this one will not hurt. He even mentioned it himself, your status as an Interior Designer outranks any other, more than you believe." He said smiling, which confused me. His smile however didn't last long, as he grew serious once again, snapping me back to realty and as to what he was saying.

"You promise me." The last part being more of an order than a question.

I looked in his eyes, to see if he was really serious in what he what asking me to do. I however saw nothing but concern, for me.

I guess if I don't go back to Mr. Kuroki it wouldn't really hurt anything. I could say that something else came up. That I got an offer better than his? But won't he be suspicious? Won't he know that it was because of what he secretly told Checkmate, that I wasn't going back?

But something kept tugging at me from the back of my head that I should trust Checkmate. I'm not sure as to why, but being around him all day gave me a higher trust in him. Mr. Kuroki was a man I only met today like Checkmate, yet I wanted to believe Checkmate more. And I did. Plus he did have a point; I did have several more offers waiting for me to decorate their homes. Why am I so easily manipulated?

"I promise." I said. He smiled at me and thanked me before opening the door and getting out of the truck.

"…wait!" I shouted as he turned around to close the door.

"Yes?" Poking his head back inside the door.

"I want to thank you for everything today. That was really nice of you… no one has ever done something like that for me." I said, looking into my lap. "…although it did end on a bad note." Half laughing to myself and suddenly becoming very interested with the fabric of my white dress.

"It's quite alright, I don't mind helping out a pretty lady." He smiled. I looked back up at him and blushed at his comment; he really is a gentleman no matter what happens. I couldn't help smile back in thanks.

"Then I guess this is goodbye." He said frowning and proceeded by closing the door.

Then my mind screamed at me to open my mouth, to say anything as so he wouldn't leave just yet. At this point anything that popped into my head was a good enough excuse to make him stay. At least just a few seconds more.

"Oh wait, I have one question!" I said, gutting out my hand in his direction.

"Yes." He said almost as quickly, smirking at my childishness.

"What Mr. Kuroki had said back there; that you're a Chojin in the Muscle League. Is that really true?" I asked. While on that thought my eyes accidentally traveled down to his red body suit, where his abdominal muscles showed quite distinctly. With what he's wearing and those washboard abs and other…ahem…unique features, that it would be the only profession I could see him in. Though there no harm in asking. And plus, then I could tell all my girlfriends I know a, what did he call it, a Muscle Leaguer. I'm sure one of them would know what I'm talking about and get insanely jealous.

I then notice how well build he really was, but not overly built like those body builders you would see on television, who use steroids. By what I saw, this guy probably doesn't even know what a steroid is. For all I know, he's probably never been sick. Why wouldn't he? If he was immune to pain, why wouldn't it'd be the same for disease? Maybe I'll save that question for later.

Then I realized that my eyes had traveled further down and I was staring directly at his…ahem 'area'…My face blushing slightly at my own stupidity. Oh my god I hope he didn't see me staring at him, like one of those school girls. Come on Holly pull yourself together. You're more mature than that. I then shot my head back up, just in time to hear him answer.

"Yes. I am indeed a Chojin of the Muscle League. Have you not heard of us?" He asked. Obviously unaware of my little moment.

I looked done in shame. "No I haven't. I'm sorry, it's just my daily life is so hectic that I don't even realize what's going on around me sometimes." I laughed at the last part, but more at my own foolishness.

"Oh I see." He said and looked down as if thinking of something.

"Well…you want to get going I'm sure, so I guess…" I started saying.

"Would you like to come visit?" He said suddenly.

"What?!" I said looking at him if he were crazy, not quite understanding his meaning.

He opened the door wider and sat back down in the passenger seat and closed it once again. Possibly as so no one else could hear our conversation. When he finally turned around to look at me like, he had a crazed look in his eyes, or so I thought.

I looked at him with wide eyes. Has he gone nuts! I tired scooting over the left to put as much space between us as possible. I raised my arms to my chest, unconsciously and my right eye began to twitch as my imagination took over my mind. If he was going to try anything, I swear to god. I'll hit him so hard, his eyeballs will hurt. He might be a wrestler, but I'm sure I could get him in a spot that will harm him…I hope. Oh wait, he doesn't feel pain…oh crap! I'm done for!

"Would you like to come to the Hercules Factory? I can introduce you to the other Chojins, my friends." He begged at me, hoping I would say yes.

I stared at him, trying to process what he said. Was he asking me to come to see him while he was pumping iron with his buddies? On second thought would that be so bad to see?

"Well…I don't know…" I considered my options; if I did go I would get to see him again and if I didn't I wouldn't see him ever again…ok that seemed a little more complicated when I first thought of it. I guess there's no harm in going, and I think deep down I really wanted to go. Anything if I got to see him.

"Please, I would really like it if you came." He said grabbing my little hands into his large ones. I looked into blue eyes and almost melted. As he held my hands I could feel tingling going up and down my spine. I hadn't felt anything like this in years.

How could I say no now?

"I would really like to go!" I said smiling. My answer must have meant the world to him because his smile grew even larger. Before he let go of my hands, he raised them, then lowered his head giving them a small kiss. I could feel my blush grow and travel down from my face to my bottom.

He then let my hands free and re-opened the door and got out once again. Before he shut the door, he turned around and stuck his head in one more time.

"Just come to the Hercules Factory, located about thirty minutes from here on Legend St. If you come by tomorrow in the afternoon, I'll be there to greet you. Other wise you won't be able to get it." He said.

"Why wouldn't I be able to get in?" I asked.

"Because women are not aloud in the Hercules Factory without an escort." He said as if it were nothing.

"Oh…ok." This suddenly sounded like a bad idea.

"I will see you tomorrow." He said closing the door and walking to the front entrance of the building. I watched him until the two large double doors closed behind him and I couldn't see him anymore.

I then started the car and made my way back home.

What have I gotten myself into, I'm visiting a place were women are not aloud and consists of hundreds of muscle bound men, who all supposedly save the world from evil. What am I going to do? Heck what do I wear?

There's only one person on this planet that can help me and clear my head; Kim.

Author's Note: Hoped you all like it! I'm SOOO sorry for the long update. I'm trying I really am, I'm just trying to make them good. Spelling and structure is a big thing for me.

PLEASE REVIEW!!!